Ballard School Blog- from nursery to GCSE in New Milton, Hampshire.

GCSE success Headmaster’s Blog 25 August

August 25, 2011

For the fourth year in succession Ballard has seen over 90% of its Year 11 pupils achieve at least five passes at A* to C grades. This year some 92% of the 59 leavers achieved this crucial target – well in excess of the National average and again putting the School at the forefront of the non-selective schools in the County.

Headmaster, Alastair Reid, said: ‘I am immensely proud of the fantastic achievements of all of our pupils. As a non-selective school, Ballard’s close-knit family environment, Christian ethos, small classes, wonderfully dedicated staff, supportive families and holistic emphasis has again ensured that pupils of all abilities have excelled beyond expectations. Our pupils now go off to their Sixth Form providers as young men and women who can hold their heads high ready to take on the challenges of the next stage in their lives. They have brought credit to themselves, their families and their School – and we, in turn, cannot think more highly of them all!’

Individual success stories abound and demonstrate the ‘value added’ impact of a School which challenges pupils to get involved in an all-round way, to cherish traditional manners and discipline and to put the needs of others before themselves. Pupils who achieved double figures of A*/A grade passes at GCSE include Lizzie Thomas, a sportswoman, actress and superb singer; Head Boy Gus Woolley, a top musician, actor and sportsman who completed a Three Peaks’ race for charity after his exams; Jon Cooper, who joined Gus on the Three Peaks and who is also an outstanding musician, actor and sportsman as well as the winner of a prestigious all-rounder sixth form scholarship to Canford School; and, Eleanor Letcher, a gifted dancer and the Deputy Head Girl. Many other pupils, some with learning difficulties, scored well above the expectations they had when they first arrived at Ballard and can now move on confidently to the next stage of their education. In this context it was wonderful to receive news just this week of two former Ballard pupils, Eli Cooper and Ryo Mizuta, receiving prestigious Governors’ Prizes at King Edward’s, Southampton, for their Year 13 A level results.

The new school year begins at Ballard on September 8th for all pupils aged from 1 ½ years to 16 years (Nursery to GCSE). The school roll remains strong and buoyant, a testimony to families making sacrifices in a tough economic climate for an excellent all-round education for their children. They will arrive back to see the state-of-the-art Astro Turf Pitch on target for completion in October, newly resurfaced tennis and netball courts, brand new cricket nets and wonderful covered outdoor play areas.

Alastair Reid (Headmaster)

Summary:

Five A*-C passes for our Y11 pupils = 92%

Five A*-C passes (including English and Maths) for our Y11 pupils = 85%